Chapter 1a: The Journey to the Valley

Eanwulf · Post by **Eanwulf** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 8:33 pm

October 485
The First Day Of Your Travels
Most of the day has been spent traveling along the topside of the cliffs that accompany the eastern ridge of the mighty fjord, Trónd. Your legs and backsides are sore from the journey and it is rapidly approaching the time to break from your travels and begin looking for a place to camp for the night. Pausing to survey a spot among the cliff tops, your group ultimately decides to make its camp among a secluded rocky outcropping that should shelter them from the elements.

Pre-winter chills have been an ever-present companion on your journey to their first campsite. The trees seen in this part of the land are ancient ones, some of them well over four feet in diameter with long tendrils of shaggy moss hanging from their leafless boughs. Up ahead you spot a ring of tall and venerable pines. Their twisted branches blocking all view of what lies within. A strange sound, almost like the whisper of a thousand faint voices can be heard.

Reflecting upon the scene further, your group notices Kæder approaching. The thrall's mood, though still apprehensive, has mellowed greatly since his departure from Kerava. He has led your group with a determined fervency and appears to know the surrounding land in great detail. The young man approaches and begins to speak.

"We have reached the Whispering Pines." begins Kæder. "The next leg of our journey is through the forest and to the base of Three-Horn Mountain. I suggest that we camp here tonight and then press on tomorrow morning." Kæder then proceeds to unpack his belongings and help situate the camp. Following his lead, you do likewise.

Despite the grimness of your rather perilous quest, the Lands of Song are still a grand and wondrous sight to behold. The air itself is charged by something old and ancient, its archaic sensation almost overpowering to the senses. Still however, you have seen no signs of any of the lands' local inhabitants among your travels and this fact troubles you greatly. One can only hope that the same isn't true to be said for the local wildlife as your bellies rumble loudly.

As the evening begins to fade into night, your group is eventually enjoying their dinner meal amidst a secluded firelight. Suddenly, without warning, the party's horses begin to stir and whinny. The distant sounds of footsteps can be heard approaching from the nearby pines!

Seosaidh · Post by **Seosaidh** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:04 am

Eyvindr had been enjoying eating the rabbits he had killed when he heard footsteps approaching. He glanced around, and seeing that everyone in the party was present, reached for his bow and stringing it stood and looked towards the footsteps.

Wbweather · Post by **Wbweather** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:25 pm

"Kæder, what do you know of these whispering pines? Could our visitors becoming from there?" He looks at the group. "I would be ready for anything, but let's not assume these footsteps are hostile toward us just yet."

Muskrat · Post by **Muskrat** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:06 pm

"Aye," says Ulfr, "let's be alert, but let's not start a battle if there is no need." He says this even as he rises fluidly from where he was sitting and knocks an arrow in his bow. He looks into the dark towards the approaching footsteps, noting, "If we can all here the approaching person, most likely they want to be heard and are making no attempt at stealth. If they are a foe, they are a bold one indeed. Most likely, they mean no harm." Still, he keeps his bow at the ready.

Seosaidh · Post by **Seosaidh** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:25 pm

Muskrat · Post by **Muskrat** » Wed Nov 25, 2015 1:11 am

"Shall we call out to them and let them know that we hear them coming?" asks Ulfr. "Or shall we remain silent in case we need to ambush them? I think a few words now are more likely to save us from a fight due to a misunderstanding. As I said, I think they have no intention of trying to take us by surprise."

Post by **TetNak** » Wed Nov 25, 2015 5:31 pm

Sylvi does not seem to have much of an opinion about an ambush. To her, they did not even know who their enemies were, let alone had any way to expect an ambush here. If me came with malice, she would send them to their end. That was the only thought in her mind. "Set up a watch, we will rotate through the night. Simple enough."

Eanwulf · Post by **Eanwulf** » Fri Nov 27, 2015 8:28 am

The distant sounds of footsteps sparks our heroes into motion. They quickly draw their weapons and scan the nearby treeline for any signs of what can be making the noises. In time, the silhouette of a single man can be seen halfheartedly crunching his way out of the woods and into the open area nearing the party. Apparently oblivious to the group's presence, the man's silhouette is quickly accompanied by several others.

One after the other, two more shapes can be seen exiting the forest. As they do so, several additional sounds are still heard trudging through the woods behind them. Before long, The front most shape notices the party's presence and swiftly raises a hand out to the others to stop moving!

By the time the rest of the accompanying shapes can cease in their advance, it looks as if there are a total of six farmers or peasants and four children accompanying them now exiting the woods. They do so with panicked faces and only the most meager manner of trappings among them. Three pitiful-looking men lead the way with two pitchforks and a scythe in hand. Behind them, still somewhat inside of the treeline, are another man with a scythe and two women leading the four children.

The peasants and children immediately freeze in their tracks and eye your group warily. All of them appear to be very scared and it seems that half of the men and all of the children also eye your campfire and to be more precisely, the food being cooked there quite hungrily...

Hayabusa · Post by **Hayabusa** » Fri Nov 27, 2015 1:33 pm

Skulmdall has done very little, mostly speaking out his mind proudly and loudly whenever he has the chance as if he wants to be sure that everyone knows whats going on in his head.

When someone approached the camp he was just as loud, even louder as soon as he noticed the farmers. "HALT!" He shouts at them, sword in hand and prepared.

Muskrat · Post by **Muskrat** » Fri Nov 27, 2015 7:33 pm

"Don't fear," says Ulfr. "We are not bandits and we mean you no harm. Are you subjects of Jarl Yngvar? We are on a mission on his behalf." Ulfr tries to make his voice gentle, but he is not very good at it--he has spent much time alone and in the wilderness and is not good with people.

Fellowship of the Dice